Shelf and support therefor



Dec. 22, 1925. 1,566,551

T. A, MA GHRAND SHELF AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Sept. 13, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l u i l /5 F A 5 A3 l1 f/ IJV'VZYVTOR fly.

Dec. 22, 1925. 1,566,551

T. A. MA GHRAND SHELF AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Sept. 13, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet :2

a rm gazmu Dec. 22, 1925- Y T. A. MA GHRAND SHELF AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Sept. 13. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 22 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFiCE THOMAS A. MA GHRAND, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHELF Ann surronr THEREFOR.

Application filed September 13, 1923. Serial No. $2,396.,

T 0 all 1071 am it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. MA GHRAND, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at 575% N. 6th Street, Philadelphia,

My invention relates to new and useful.

improvementsin a shelf and support therefor and has for its primary object to provide an exceedingly simple, effective and inexpensive clampmember that may be easily and readily attached to a joist, rafter or other similar supporting member to securely hold a shelf frame or-frames in place.

Another object of this invention is to provide means whereby theclamp may be adjusted for use with joists or rafters of varymg widths or thicknesses.

A further object of my invention is' to produce a knock down shelf structure that may be readily assembled or disassembled by persons having little or no knowledge of the use of tools thus particularly adapting it for use by the housewife.

A still further object of my invention is to provide what is generally known as a hanging shelf in which the parts are so combined as to producea strong rigid structure when assembled. I 3

With these ends in view, this. invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by. the claims.

In order that those skilled in tlicartto which this invention appertains, mayunderstand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring.

by numerals to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shelf as embodied in one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a slight modification.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of one of the supporting frames and the'clamp with a section of shelf board in place.

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged sectional edge view of the clamp and cross head of the frame.

ment of the latter.

. Fig.5 is a top end view ofione of the hangers.

Fig. 6 1s a fragmentary side elevation thereof.-

F g.- 7 1s a View similarto Flg. 4-, trating a modification.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the cross barand illusclamp similar to that shown in Fig. 4, illustrating the use of a liner or fillerto adjust. I

the size of the clamp. r

Fig. 9 is afragmentary sectional edge View of another form of clamp.

-1'0. is,,an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the device illustrated in, v, Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied 2 represents a shelf frame comprismg a crossbar 3 with pendant fastening dcvices l, one at each end, the heads 5 of.

which are at the lower ends for registra tion with theenlargements or recess 6 of the slots?v formed in the upperends of the hangers 8, whenthe fastening devices are. placed insaid slots. The hangers. 8 have one or more rests 9 produced in their inner edgesfor. supporting shelf boards 1 0,.and.

the lower ends of the-hangers may be braced by suitable cross pieces 11 attached to' the hangers by means of fasteners'12 as shown,

in Fig. 10.

If found desirable the shelf boards may rest-upon slats 13, Fig. 10, whichare placed on the rests 9 of the hangers 8 and where slats 'areused I have found it desirable to place holding strips 14 on two opposite sides of the hangers so as to overlap the ends of the slats and prevent the accidental displacel These holding strips may be held in place by screws 15, or. their equivalent, which pass through ho'leslG-in the ends of the strips and into holes 17 in the hangers.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 8 the cross bar 3 may carry a rib piece 18 which forms a section or part of the clamp base 19 and this rib piece may be formed as an integral partv thereof or it may be attached thereto as shown, by means of suitable fastening devices such as bolts 20. On both sides of the rib piece are located the outer base sections 21 and 22 each having an outer beveled edge 23 so that the lateral edges converge toward the top of the base. These outer sections with the plates 24 are attached to the rib piece and to each other by bolts 25, or their central base section.

In Fig. 8, I have illustrated the use of a liner or tiller '28 to be placed between any two parts of the base so as to increase the width (Jflllfl clamp and in order to decrease said width the liner or even one of the outer base sections may be removed.

Instead of making the base member of a plurality of sections I may form the same in one piece as shown at 29, Fig. 9 and this may be secured to the cross piece '8 or it could be the cross piece itself. The two lateral edges are beveled as at for coaction with the clamp. plates the same as hereinbefore described.

As so far described the invention contemplates the use of a clamp with each frame as shown in Fig. 1 and these frames are attached to spaced joists or rafters 31 by causing the plates of each clamp to engage opposite sides of the joist or rafter and then drawing the plates toward each other by means of the bolts and nuts 25 and 26 respectively which will embed the prongs in the joist or rafter. After two frames are in place the shelves may be positioned as will be readily understood.

In Figs. 2 and 10 I have illustrated a frame secured to each end of a reach bar 32 while midway the length of the said reach bar is located a single clamp, constructed as above described, thus one clamp is used to support a complete shelf structure in which ,case the shelves should be shorter although this may be regulated according to the weight ofthe objects or articles which will be placed on the shelf.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is .1. A shelf structure comprising, in combination, a plurality of frames each consisting of a cross bar, a headed pendant attaching member at each end of the cross bar and hangers provided with spaced rests and having slots at their upper ends, the lower portions of said slots terminating in en larged recesses, said slots and their recesses adapted to register with the headed attaching members for detachably connecting the hangers to the crossbar, shelves engaging the rests of the different frames, a reach bar connected to the cross bars of said frames,

and a clamp associated with said reach bar and including a pair of oppositely'disposed plates, inwardly projecting prongs on said plates and means to move said plates toward each other.

2. A shelf structure comprising, in combination, a plurality of frames each consisting of a cross bar, a headed pendant attaching member at each end of. the cross bar, hangers provided with spaced rests and having slots at their upper ends, the lower portions of said slots terminating in enlarged recesses, said slots and their recesses adapted to register with the headed attaching-members for detachably connecting the hangers to the cross bar, slats engaging the rests on the hangers, a cross piece, means to attach the cross piece to the lower ends of the hangers and holding strips attached to both sides of the hangers and overlapping the ends of the slats to prevent their accidental displacement, clamps carried by said hangers and including a sectional base, one section of which may be a liner, the outer section of said base having beveled outer edges upwardly converging, plates coacting with said beveled edges, means passing through the plates and base sections to hold the parts together and draw the plates toward each other and prongs on the plates projecting inwardly and shelves resting on the slats. I

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

THOMAS A. MA GI-IRAND. 

